Netflix Elevates Its Horror Game With A New Oscar Wilde Adaptation

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Netflix is making a horror movie based on a novel by Oscar Wilde, signaling a renewed focus on the genre after a period of limited offerings.

Netflix quickly became known for its excellent horror content, and Mike Flanagan was a major reason why. He started strong with the critically acclaimed series The Haunting of Hill House and continued to create several other successful horror shows during his time with the streaming service.

After finishing The Fall of the House of Usher, Mike Flanagan left Netflix to work on movies. Even his next TV project, an adaptation of Stephen King’s Carrie, will be available on Prime Video. Netflix’s horror series have suffered since Flanagan’s departure, but their upcoming adaptation of an Oscar Wilde story might help them regain their footing.

Netflix’s Horror TV Hasn’t Been The Same Since Mike Flanagan’s Exit, But Its Oscar Wilde Adaptation Can Change Things

Netflix has had some popular horror movies, like Frankenstein, recently. But when it comes to horror TV shows, things haven’t been as strong since Mike Flanagan left. Following his final series, The Fall of the House of Usher, very few horror shows on Netflix have really stood out.

Good news for fans of classic literature and spooky stories: Netflix is planning a new series based on Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. Similar to their successful adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House, this version will update the story for a modern audience. The show, titled The Grays, will be written by Katie Rose Rogers, known for her work on Supergirl and Fellow Travelers.

The new series is set in today’s beauty world and focuses on the stories of brothers Basil and Doran Gray. It’s still too early to know exactly how it will be, but the premise is exciting and could be exactly what Netflix needs to revive its horror offerings.

Netflix’s Best Horror Shows Have Been Modern Takes On Classic Horror Works

Mike Flanagan’s horror series on Netflix – including shows like The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, The Fall of the House of Usher, and The Midnight Club – are all based on well-known novels, but with some creative changes. Hill House primarily adapts Shirley Jackson’s book of the same name, while also taking ideas from Stephen King’s The Shining. Bly Manor, on the other hand, is largely inspired by Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw.

Mike Flanagan’s horror series on Netflix often draw inspiration from classic authors. The Fall of the House of Usher references many of Edgar Allan Poe’s most famous works, while The Midnight Club is based on Christopher Pike’s 1994 novel of the same name. Even Archive 81 shows strong influences from H.P. Lovecraft stories like The Color Out of Space, The Call of Cthulhu, From Beyond, and The Music of Erich Zann.

As someone who’s been watching a lot of these updated classic stories succeed on Netflix, I’m feeling pretty optimistic about The Grays. It definitely has the potential to be their next horror sensation. My biggest hope is that, even with a modern spin, it stays true to the brilliance of the original Oscar Wilde story. It’s important these Netflix adaptations respect what made the source material so good in the first place.

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2025-11-29 04:28